How Did Beane and McDermott “Drain The Swamp” At One Bills Drive So Quickly?

[Freddie's Dead]

You forgot my boy and fellow NT alum Randy "Woody" Ribbeck.  

[SoTier]

20 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

Results give you credibility 

 

Yes, a great 9-7 record highlighted by ...

• 2 games (2 losses) where the team failed to score a TD
• 6 games (3 losses) where the team failed to score more than 1 TD
• 7 games against playoff teams ... 3 wins, 4 losses 

... and finally a playoff appearance that resulted in a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville should punch McDermott and Beane's tickets to the HOF especially since we all know that the offense is so much better today than it was at this time last year since the Bills have at long last found their franchise QB!

[oldmanfan]

5 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

Yes, a great 9-7 record highlighted by ...

• 2 games (2 losses) where the team failed to score a TD
• 6 games (3 losses) where the team failed to score more than 1 TD
• 7 games against playoff teams ... 3 wins, 4 losses 

... and finally a playoff appearance that resulted in a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville should punch McDermott and Beane's tickets to the HOF especially since we all know that the offense is so much better today than it was at this time last year since the Bills have at long last found their franchise QB!

You can be a smartass just to be a smartass I suppose. Or one can acknowledge that the current HC and GM got the team to the playoffs last year.  And that even so they have acknowledged they have a long way to go still to build the team into what they want.

[Soda Popinski]

14 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

You can be a smartass just to be a smartass I suppose. Or one can acknowledge that the current HC and GM got the team to the playoffs last year.  And that even so they have acknowledged they have a long way to go still to build the team into what they want.

I think what a lot of fans don't see is the culture change within the organization, all they see are the Ws and Ls and even that should be enough.   Did anyone think after Watkins and Darby were dumped last year this was  a 9-7 team?  I had us at 6 wins and I wasn't sure that was realistic.   We overachieved last year, but the Pegulas can see the plan that was mapped out by McDermott through his interviews coming to fruition.   He has given them tangible results to justify everything he asked for when they brought him in.   The same with Beane.  He gets rid of two very popular players with the fans and says "next year I'll get us a QB" and he delivers.    

 

And I believe firmly none of this was done with any involvement of Brandon at all.   I also believe that McBeane had nothing to do with him being let go they neither wanted or cared what RB did it had no effect on their day to day work.   Brandon brought this firing on himself.   

[BADOLBILZ]

20 hours ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

You have had a GM continuum for quite a long time in Buffalo that ended with Beane being hired as a total outsider to work with McDermott.  That's why there has been such a purge and again I find nothing jaw dropping or amazing about it. Standard NFL fare. 

 

 

Yeah the perception that it's special or inherently meaningful is laughable.

 

People desperately grasping for signs of proof of future greatness that aren't there.

 

Major-to-complete turnover is the norm in the absence of success and is not a predictor of future success.

[mjt328]

I wouldn't attribute the "swamp drain" to Sean McDermott specifically. 

 

The Pegulas were not experienced in the football business when they first purchased the Bills.  They weren't planning to just walk into the building and fire everyone, regardless of what the fans wanted to see happen.  The overhaul was something that would clearly take some time.

 

When Doug Marrone quit only a year after the Pegulas bought the team, I think it really caught them off guard.  The team looked pretty talented on defense, and had just put together the first winning season in a very long time.  Things were starting to look up.  Usually head coaches are fired as part of a team totally clearing house.  That wasn't the case here.  The Pegulas liked the direction the team appeared to be going, so they kept Doug Whaley as General Manager and tried to find a coach that could work with him. 

 

When Rex Ryan was fired, the Pegulas were clearly ready to start-over.  But in order to keep the scouting work done over the previous 12 months, they decided to wait until after the draft to get rid of Whaley and the scouting staff.  Once that move happened, it was only a matter of time before everything underneath was overhauled.

 

This whole Russ Brandon thing was an unexpected situation.  I don't believe he makes football decisions and hasn't for awhile.  If all of this questionable conduct stuff hadn't come around, I believe he would have continued to be part of the Bills organization for a very long time.

 

[Behindenemylines]

As a new owner it's All about managing variables.  If you change everything immediately you have no baseline.  Also maybe some people were constrained by the former management but will shine with the new.   Who knows but having the Rex debacle, which did buy time and generate interest set them up for real and astute leaders.   Well played in my book and thank goodness too!   Now let's hope it continues and this draft gets us where we want to go!

[QuoteTheRaven83]

Thing I love about McDermott is that he made it FUN for these guys. You can clearly tell the Bills players were having a blast on the sidelines, celebrating for the littlest things. Almost like watching kids playing pop warner. Hope Josh Allen pans out and these guys stay here for a LONG, LONG time.

[MJS]

On 5/3/2018 at 9:33 AM, May Day 10 said:

thats what happens when a franchise is on moth balls for 20 years and someone comes in, throws the curtains aside and opens a window to the outside world.

 

lack of "continuity", bad luck, Patriots, etc did not cause the drought.  Buffalo Bills "management" did.

 

I disagree. Those things absolutely contributed to the drought. Bad management did as well.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

4 hours ago, SoTier said:

 

Yes, a great 9-7 record highlighted by ...

• 2 games (2 losses) where the team failed to score a TD
• 6 games (3 losses) where the team failed to score more than 1 TD
• 7 games against playoff teams ... 3 wins, 4 losses 

... and finally a playoff appearance that resulted in a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville should punch McDermott and Beane's tickets to the HOF especially since we all know that the offense is so much better today than it was at this time last year since the Bills have at long last found their franchise QB!

 

Spin however you may wish to...

 

1) winning team

2) playoff Berth 

 

Rationalize they should’ve have lost, its as sorry a plight as trying to rationalize all those years of losing into moral victories. 

 

Results are results.  And that’s all that matters. 

[Mat68]

In reguards to Pegula.  Terry was not a big football fan.  That seems to be more Kim.  Coming into an organization that has been middling what is the issue? What needs be fixed?  That is not something that happens over night.  When Marrone wanted more power and change imo Brandon painted it a money grab.  Pegula even offered more money.  Brandon was explaining the business and Marrone was wanting him out.  After the search and Rex debackle I think Pegula had a better handle of the issues at hand.  The Mcderrmot hire and Beane hire now shows a vision and systematic clense of the organization top to bottom.  The recent news about Brandon is a surprise in infraction but possibly the best outcome for the Pegulas.  Kim was always going to be the day to day operator of the franchises she just needed to learn that side of it.  Not perfect but best situation to make the change.  

[Steptide]

Im very late to this thread, but I think the simple answer to the original post is that pegula handed over authority and control to McDermott after the Rex mess. Terry probably took a step back after firing Rex and realized that maybe it's not as easy as he originally thought 

[SoTier]

5 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

You can be a smartass just to be a smartass I suppose. Or one can acknowledge that the current HC and GM got the team to the playoffs last year.  And that even so they have acknowledged they have a long way to go still to build the team into what they want.

 

The statement I was commenting was one about "results".   The "results" from the Bills first season under McDermott and less than a year under Beane were certainly not that good, and certainly not great,  enough to merit more than a "nice job".    Neither has demonstrated that he's a coaching or personnel genius.   Major personnel changes usually happen when there's a change in ownership/management, not when a team has a modestly successful season.

 

5 hours ago, Soda Popinski said:

I think what a lot of fans don't see is the culture change within the organization, all they see are the Ws and Ls and even that should be enough.   Did anyone think after Watkins and Darby were dumped last year this was  a 9-7 team?  I had us at 6 wins and I wasn't sure that was realistic.   We overachieved last year, but the Pegulas can see the plan that was mapped out by McDermott through his interviews coming to fruition.   He has given them tangible results to justify everything he asked for when they brought him in.   The same with Beane.  He gets rid of two very popular players with the fans and says "next year I'll get us a QB" and he delivers.    

 

And I believe firmly none of this was done with any involvement of Brandon at all.   I also believe that McBeane had nothing to do with him being let go they neither wanted or cared what RB did it had no effect on their day to day work.   Brandon brought this firing on himself.   

 

Excuse me, but winning football games is, and should be, the first priority of every NFL football team, although I don't think that was necessarily true of the Bills during Ralph Wilson's ownership.  Except for McDermott, his coaching staff, and in small part, Beane, all of the Bills non-player personnel responsible for the Bills 9-7 2017 season were hold overs from previous regimes or were hired at some point after the 2017 NFL draft and OTAs began.

 

McDermott introduced "culture change" into the team itself, but that wasn't what the OP was asking about; he was asking about the replacement of long-time employees who had been with organization over several coaching changes.  McDermott's means of "culture change" has been getting rid of players who don't apparently fit into his "culture" despite the cost in talent.  This isn't anything particularly new for the Bills, either; McDermott's "process" philosophy is simply a resurrection of Dick Jauron's "my way or the highway", and Beane's drafting of a questionable first round QB just to placate the fans echoes Dough Whaley's drafting of EJ Manuel in 2013.  The only thing really separating Whaley and Beane is that Beane paid a whole lot more for Allen than Whaley did for Manuel.

 

1 hour ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

Spin however you may wish to...

 

1) winning team

2) playoff Berth 

 

Rationalize they should’ve have lost, its as sorry a plight as trying to rationalize all those years of losing into moral victories. 

 

Results are results.  And that’s all that matters. 

 

I'm not the one rationalizing "moral victories" and pretending that the 2017 Bills were so awesome that the HC and GM should be given carte blanche in running the team.   I pointed out that not only were the Bills not that great, but they haven't done anything to fix their serious flaws on offense, which you are trying to now claim is "rationalizing all those years of losing".  Sorry, dude, but you're the one doing the rationalizing over a 9-7 team that lucked into a playoff berth, and then promptly lost in the WC game.  You can start crowing about "results" when the Bills beat NE in NE with Brady playing QB and when the Bills manage to win 10 games in the same season or -- be still my heart! --  win a playoff game! 

Edited May 4, 2018 by SoTier

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

12 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

The statement I was commenting was one about "results".   The "results" from the Bills first season under McDermott and less than a year under Beane were certainly not that good, and certainly not great,  enough to merit more than a "nice job".    Neither has demonstrated that he's a coaching or personnel genius.   Major personnel changes usually happen when there's a change in ownership/management, not when a team has a modestly successful season.

 

 

Excuse me, but winning football games is, and should be, the first priority of every NFL football team, although I don't think that was necessarily true of the Bills during Ralph Wilson's ownership.  Except for McDermott, his coaching staff, and in small part, Beane, all of the Bills non-player personnel responsible for the Bills 9-7 2017 season were hold overs from previous regimes or were hired at some point after the 2017 NFL draft and OTAs began.

 

McDermott introduced "culture change" into the team itself, but that wasn't what the OP was asking about; he was asking about the replacement of long-time employees who had been with organization over several coaching changes.  McDermott's means of "culture change" has been getting rid of players who don't apparently fit into his "culture" despite the cost in talent.  This isn't anything particularly new for the Bills, either; McDermott's "process" philosophy is simply a resurrection of Dick Jauron's "my way or the highway", and Beane's drafting of a questionable first round QB just to placate the fans echoes Dough Whaley's drafting of EJ Manuel in 2013.  The only thing really separating Whaley and Beane is that Beane paid a whole lot more for Allen than Whaley did for Manuel.

 

 

I'm not the one rationalizing "moral victories" and pretending that the 2017 Bills were so awesome that the HC and GM should be given carte blanche in running the team.   I pointed out that not only were the Bills not that great, but they haven't done anything to fix their serious flaws on offense, which you are trying to now claim is "rationalizing all those years of losing".  Sorry, dude, but you're the one doing the rationalizing over a 9-7 team that lucked into a playoff berth, and then promptly lost in the WC game.  You can start crowing about "results" when the Bills beat NE in NE with Brady playing QB and when the Bills manage to win 10 games in the same season or -- be still my heart! --  win a playoff game! 

 

I’m not rationalizing a thing. Not one.  I am merely stating that when you take over a losing team, turn it into a winning team and make the playoff for the first time in two decades as a first year coach, you earn credibility on what additional changes should be made to keep improving. 

 

If i hire a manager and put them in charge of a failing business unit, he/she turns it around, that is a result. No matter how many ‘high level business meetings’ ? had lucky outcomes. 

 

Results earn credibility. 

 

This is a simple fact of life. 

 

 losers sit around trying to figure out how someone else’s success is really a just failure of perception... 

 

winners figure out how to keep grinding and get better... 

 

mcdermott is has a winning record as a head coach. It’s an indisputable fact. He is 1/1 fielding a playoff contender, that is a fact. 

 

He has earned the right to have the latitude to keep  moving forward. That’s an opinion but I suspect it’s shared by the owner based on what I see. 

 

[Soda Popinski]

What he said ^

[K-9]

6 hours ago, mjt328 said:

I wouldn't attribute the "swamp drain" to Sean McDermott specifically. 

 

The Pegulas were not experienced in the football business when they first purchased the Bills.  They weren't planning to just walk into the building and fire everyone, regardless of what the fans wanted to see happen.  The overhaul was something that would clearly take some time.

 

Good point. They took over a team on its way to a 9-7 record and in contention until the last few weeks. That’s not a situation that screams panic and lets blow the whole thing up. Being in that .500 area the next two years is the purgatory of mediocrity that deludes even the most experienced owners into thinking they’re only a player or two away. It’s understandable why they were patient initially.

[BuffaloRush]

1 hour ago, SoTier said:

 

The statement I was commenting was one about "results".   The "results" from the Bills first season under McDermott and less than a year under Beane were certainly not that good, and certainly not great,  enough to merit more than a "nice job".    Neither has demonstrated that he's a coaching or personnel genius.   Major personnel changes usually happen when there's a change in ownership/management, not when a team has a modestly successful season.

 

 

Excuse me, but winning football games is, and should be, the first priority of every NFL football team, although I don't think that was necessarily true of the Bills during Ralph Wilson's ownership.  Except for McDermott, his coaching staff, and in small part, Beane, all of the Bills non-player personnel responsible for the Bills 9-7 2017 season were hold overs from previous regimes or were hired at some point after the 2017 NFL draft and OTAs began.

 

McDermott introduced "culture change" into the team itself, but that wasn't what the OP was asking about; he was asking about the replacement of long-time employees who had been with organization over several coaching changes.  McDermott's means of "culture change" has been getting rid of players who don't apparently fit into his "culture" despite the cost in talent.  This isn't anything particularly new for the Bills, either; McDermott's "process" philosophy is simply a resurrection of Dick Jauron's "my way or the highway", and Beane's drafting of a questionable first round QB just to placate the fans echoes Dough Whaley's drafting of EJ Manuel in 2013.  The only thing really separating Whaley and Beane is that Beane paid a whole lot more for Allen than Whaley did for Manuel.

 

 

I'm not the one rationalizing "moral victories" and pretending that the 2017 Bills were so awesome that the HC and GM should be given carte blanche in running the team.   I pointed out that not only were the Bills not that great, but they haven't done anything to fix their serious flaws on offense, which you are trying to now claim is "rationalizing all those years of losing".  Sorry, dude, but you're the one doing the rationalizing over a 9-7 team that lucked into a playoff berth, and then promptly lost in the WC game.  You can start crowing about "results" when the Bills beat NE in NE with Brady playing QB and when the Bills manage to win 10 games in the same season or -- be still my heart! --  win a playoff game! 

 

Again playing the whole “coulda, shoulda, woulda” game is pathetic.  Bottom line...the Bills made the playoffs for the first time in 2 decades.  Of course they got some lucky breaks, as most teams do during every season.  The fact remained that the Bills teams for nearly 20 years were so bad, that couldn’t get in the playoffs.  I really get annoyed when people short- change the team.  What McDermott did was a limited roster last season was pretty impressive 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

12 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

This is a good description of the likely scenario. 

 

I do think then OP is correct.  This was unusual.  If you bring in a Chip Kelly or an Ndy Reid, if he tells the owner the GM hasntongo, fine, I get. But this was a young, rookie head coach.   What happened here, I would guess, was anyoung combination of pre-existing dissatisfaction with Whaley and Brandon and a very positive impression made by McD.  

 

I can't disagree it was unusual. 

 

There were articles that pointed out little things that were observed suggesting Whaley was gone as far back as the Sr Bowl in January, right after McDermott was hired and culminating in a scene after the March Owner's Meeting where the rest of most team's scouting staffs had gone off to Pro Days and other pre-draft activities, and there was Doug Whaley playing with his toddler daughter on the hotel lawn.  It seems likely McDermott was hired with the understanding that Whaley and staff would be fired after the draft.

[John from Riverside]

2 hours ago, SoTier said:

 

The statement I was commenting was one about "results".   The "results" from the Bills first season under McDermott and less than a year under Beane were certainly not that good, and certainly not great,  enough to merit more than a "nice job".    Neither has demonstrated that he's a coaching or personnel genius.   Major personnel changes usually happen when there's a change in ownership/management, not when a team has a modestly successful season.

 

 

Excuse me, but winning football games is, and should be, the first priority of every NFL football team, although I don't think that was necessarily true of the Bills during Ralph Wilson's ownership.  Except for McDermott, his coaching staff, and in small part, Beane, all of the Bills non-player personnel responsible for the Bills 9-7 2017 season were hold overs from previous regimes or were hired at some point after the 2017 NFL draft and OTAs began.

 

McDermott introduced "culture change" into the team itself, but that wasn't what the OP was asking about; he was asking about the replacement of long-time employees who had been with organization over several coaching changes.  McDermott's means of "culture change" has been getting rid of players who don't apparently fit into his "culture" despite the cost in talent.  This isn't anything particularly new for the Bills, either; McDermott's "process" philosophy is simply a resurrection of Dick Jauron's "my way or the highway", and Beane's drafting of a questionable first round QB just to placate the fans echoes Dough Whaley's drafting of EJ Manuel in 2013.  The only thing really separating Whaley and Beane is that Beane paid a whole lot more for Allen than Whaley did for Manuel.

 

 

I'm not the one rationalizing "moral victories" and pretending that the 2017 Bills were so awesome that the HC and GM should be given carte blanche in running the team.   I pointed out that not only were the Bills not that great, but they haven't done anything to fix their serious flaws on offense, which you are trying to now claim is "rationalizing all those years of losing".  Sorry, dude, but you're the one doing the rationalizing over a 9-7 team that lucked into a playoff berth, and then promptly lost in the WC game.  You can start crowing about "results" when the Bills beat NE in NE with Brady playing QB and when the Bills manage to win 10 games in the same season or -- be still my heart! --  win a playoff game! 

LOL

 

There is no need for "moral victories" the bills had real victories.....on their way to a winning record and a playoff birth (by the way there is no such thing as "luck into a playoff birth"....you either GO OR YOU DONT.....let me know when the patriots start complaining about the lucky wins they get every year.

 

All this while going through a rebiuld on the go....turning the top of the roster upside down for draft picks.....we were and are REBIULDING

 

McDermott is a defensive coach......he is going to fix his defense first which was deplorable under Rex Ryan.  The rebiuld and getting rid of the top half of the roster resulted in over 40 million of dead cap this year...they are REBIULDING....but STILL managed to play in a wild card....most teams that rebiuld just plain suck so yes they did a GREAT job.

 

Wake up for christ sake

[SoTier]

15 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Again playing the whole “coulda, shoulda, woulda” game is pathetic.  Bottom line...the Bills made the playoffs for the first time in 2 decades.  Of course they got some lucky breaks, as most teams do during every season.  The fact remained that the Bills teams for nearly 20 years were so bad, that couldn’t get in the playoffs.  I really get annoyed when people short- change the team.  What McDermott did was a limited roster last season was pretty impressive 

 

McDermott's 2017 coaching job hardly merited consideration for "Coach of the Year", and his "limited roster" was/is largely of his own making since he had significant input in determining which players were added, sent packing or kept kept over 2017 and into this season.    You can jump on the McDermott bandwagon but even Dick Jauron, easily the Bills worst HC in the last three decades, once coached a team to a playoff berth (13-3), so I'll wait and see if he can replicate or improve on 2017 before I nominate him for the HOF.

[RevWarRifleman]

On 5/3/2018 at 11:33 AM, May Day 10 said:

thats what happens when a franchise is on moth balls for 20 years and someone comes in, throws the curtains aside and opens a window to the outside world.

 

lack of "continuity", bad luck, Patriots, etc did not cause the drought.  Buffalo Bills "management" did.

Yup. It all flows down from the top.

[Punching Bag]

On 5/3/2018 at 11:09 AM, BuffaloRush said:

This leaves Jim Overdorff as really the last connection to Ralph Wilson.

 

There is time to put Jim Overdorff out to pasture.

 

And entire marketing department was left in place but that appears to had been under control of Brandon.  Kim could clear that out as well.

On 5/3/2018 at 11:45 AM, HansLanda said:

Interesting that Overdorf is still on board. For all of the flack many give him, he must be super at his job as the cap expert. Beane said they meshed immediately. I guess we can't fault JO for all the bad contracts Whaley drew up. Maybe he's just the pencil pusher to get them hammered out and signed with the agents.

 

No JO did all of the contracts NOT Whaley.  JO including clauses which prevented pulling of signing bonus after drug suspension for big stuff.

On 5/3/2018 at 11:41 AM, CardinalScotts said:

It was unusual under Ralph...wouldnt eat any contract. New coach using not his assistants

 

Pegula doesnt care willing to eat contracts get the right guy--he has him now

 

The problem with that is then head coach does not take as much care as he should on signing of new coaches hence good coaches let go and coaches which lasted one year after being hired by McD.

[Nihilarian]

On ‎5‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 11:30 AM, TroutDog said:

I agree with 26. But, when Pegula’s originally purchased the team, they specifically stated they were going to leave things as they were, admitting that they were ‘green’. Understandable but, not so shockingly, led to the same result on the field. 

 

When McD was hired, I believe they had realized that a complete overhaul was needed and that this included culture. Ridding an organization of people is one way to very clearly let people know that a new sheriff is in town and they have McD the power to do it. 

 

I, for one, am glad they came to the realization. 

 

As am I, as am I. Rex Ryan was the wrong hire from day one and we all should be grateful that Whaley, Brandon brought about their own demise with their stupidity. 

 

My take on the situation is that Russ Brandon convinced the Pegula's to give Whaley some time to get things right. Probably out of respect for Ralph Wilson I think the new owners wanted to see how things went before making any major changes. 

 

I also think they hired a consultant after things didn't go quite as anticipated after that 9-7 season and Marrone stepping away. Let's not forget that Brandon was there prodding the Pegula's to "not let Rex Ryan leave the building". 2015 saw that #5 defense head into the ceramic convenience with the supposed defensive guru the sole reason for this nosedive.  

From 8-8 to 7-9 and suddenly Ryan lost all credibility as did Doug Whaley.

 

 

On another note. While things have changed for the better in so many ways since the McD hire. My biggest concern now is will this defensive-minded head coach fall victim to what killed so many other regimes since Marv levy, Wade Phillips eras. That is not having a superior talent offensive line like the team had for their super bowl years. The team just lost an above average center, left tackle along with their all-pro left guard. Things could go south very quickly for this new regime. 

 

 

[Keukasmallies]

I think McD was successful because Terry Pegula awoke to the fact that if you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got.

Edited May 5, 2018 by Keukasmallies

[Punching Bag]

On 5/5/2018 at 7:18 PM, Nihilarian said:

 

On another note. While things have changed for the better in so many ways since the McD hire. My biggest concern now is will this defensive-minded head coach fall victim to what killed so many other regimes since Marv levy, Wade Phillips eras. That is not having a superior talent offensive line like the team had for their super bowl years. The team just lost an above average center, left tackle along with their all-pro left guard. Things could go south very quickly for this new regime. 

 

Agree that OL needs to get better but was the performance of the OL due to the firing OC (one of a number of coaches let go after one year) or the OL / Running game corrdinator we still are stuck with?

 

Yes a left tackle who only started 16 games in last two years and was ineffective in some of them was traded but that fact was convienently left out.

 

Continue your campaign Nil.

[BobbyC81]

On May 3, 2018 at 8:34 AM, JoeF said:

Agree CB. 

 

My speculation...McD showed the Pegulas a plan to transition leadership in the administration, personnel, player and coaching side.  They liked the plan and gave him the direct pipeline but they wanted to be kept informed.  This would be a normal transition.  Whaley, Berchtold, etc were all as good as gone the day he walked in...but you don't fire the personnel staff in January when they have all the draft information.  

 

McD built his coaching staff and looked at the other parts of the organization including the players.  He found that the loser mentality permeated parts of the organization he didn't anticipate, but he wanted a second set of eyes that he trusted to evaluate players, personnel and administration.  Enter his hand picked GM - Brandon Beane.  Beane worked on his staff first, then reviewed McD's assessment of players...Watson (low effort diva); Darby (not a fit for the hard nosed cover corner); Dareus (keep him but get rid of him if his attitude starts to go south) --then together they started to work the plan.  They were patient and open-minded but once a decision was made they acted quickly with Terry's full support.

 

Brandon's public persona of a slick, fast talking, marketing deal maker just wasn't ever going to fit McDermott's style.  I speculate that the reported rift was over Watkins -- Russ saying -- no way he's all we've got to market and he's all over our electronic and print materials and McDermott saying that's no longer how we make decisions and by the way get out of my face...this is a football team not a promotions event. 

 

Just speculating -- but I think this is probably a bit more than normal new coach turnover but clearly shows McDermott and Beane are in charge.

 

I agree with you and all of this makes it even more puzzling that Danny Crossman retains his job now across multiple owners, GMs and head coaches.  It's not like he's some young, innovative and highly successful special teams coach.  Why didn't McDermott get his own guy like he did for the other positions on his staff?  Does Crossman have some dirt on someone?

[Buffalo Barbarian]

 

 

On 5/3/2018 at 11:09 AM, BuffaloRush said:

One of the most remarkable things about the hiring of McDermott and Beane (to a lesser extent) is how they have eesentiallu completely turned over the entire organization and the football roster as well.

 

if you recall in 2014, when Terry Pegula bought the team very little changed.  Russ was moved to President as PSE but the overall structure seemed very similar (one exception was Rex reporting to TP and not the GM).  Essentially the same decision makers who “tarnished the brand” for year were still employed and in power to make questionable decision.

 

Cut to 2017, when McDermott was hired he immediately made big changes by firing the following long-time employees

 

PR Scott Berchtold (still a “consultant” but powerless”)

GM Doug Whaley 

Jim Monos (Director of Pro Personnel

Buddy Nix (Still was working as a scout)

Whaley’s Entire Scouting Dept

James Trapp (Chaplan)

Paul Lancaster (Director of Engagement)

Michael Lyons (Director of Analytics)

Entire Analytics Staff

Bud Carpenter (Trainer)

Shone Gibson (Trainer)

 

This leaves Jim Overdorff as really the last connection to Ralph Wilson.

 

So here is my question - how did McDermott do it?  It just seems unprecedented that someone could come in an clean house within the span of year - nonetheless a coach and GM.

 

I remember hearing that Marrone was not happy with some of these people and yet he was not successful at getting any of them fired.  He had problems with Whaley but Terry elected to keep him.  I guess what I’m wondering is why was McDermott and Beane able to drain the swamp, whereas Marrone was not able.  

 

It seemed as though the Pegula’s were pretty happy with their staff and yet within a year everyone was fired.  

 

How do you think this went down behind the scenes?

 

 

 

 

After dealing with Wrecks and Marroon and seeing how organized, professional and the plan McDermott had , Terry gave him all the Power to reshape the organization in his image.

 

 

Edited May 8, 2018 by Buffalo Barbarian

[BillsBytheBay]

On 5/3/2018 at 11:15 AM, 26CornerBlitz said:

Is this something unusual when a team hires a new coach and GM?  No. 

You would think we know better than anyone.... But no.  For over a decade this is unusual for the bills. 

 

I can't remember the last time we traded away multiple first round players under contract.  Front office moves have been stagnant or slow developing changes.

 

"Is this something unusual when a team hires a new coach and GM?" For this team, YES.

Edited May 8, 2018 by JaxBills

[John from Riverside]

On 5/5/2018 at 4:18 PM, Nihilarian said:

As am I, as am I. Rex Ryan was the wrong hire from day one and we all should be grateful that Whaley, Brandon brought about their own demise with their stupidity. 

 

My take on the situation is that Russ Brandon convinced the Pegula's to give Whaley some time to get things right. Probably out of respect for Ralph Wilson I think the new owners wanted to see how things went before making any major changes. 

 

I also think they hired a consultant after things didn't go quite as anticipated after that 9-7 season and Marrone stepping away. Let's not forget that Brandon was there prodding the Pegula's to "not let Rex Ryan leave the building". 2015 saw that #5 defense head into the ceramic convenience with the supposed defensive guru the sole reason for this nosedive.  

From 8-8 to 7-9 and suddenly Ryan lost all credibility as did Doug Whaley.

 

 

On another note. While things have changed for the better in so many ways since the McD hire. My biggest concern now is will this defensive-minded head coach fall victim to what killed so many other regimes since Marv levy, Wade Phillips eras. That is not having a superior talent offensive line like the team had for their super bowl years. The team just lost an above average center, left tackle along with their all-pro left guard. Things could go south very quickly for this new regime. 

 

 

I think the OL is not as bad as some make it out to be.....starters anyway.

 

Groy stepped in when players went down and the OL did not miss a beat....I think Groy is VERY underrated.  I do hope that next year's draft and free agency is all about addressing the OL however making it a strength of the team.

 

LT doesnt bother me at all...Glenn barely played....Dawkins looks like a find.

 

If the OG from the draft ends up being solid depth then all we really needed to worry about is RT...which we really need to address this next off season.

[Nihilarian]

22 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

Agree that OL needs to get better but was the performance of the OL due to the firing OC (one of a number of coaches let go after one year) or the OL / Running game corrdinator we still are stuck with?

 

Yes a left tackle who only started 16 games in last two years and was ineffective in some of them was traded but that fact was convienently left out.

 

Continue your campaign Nil.

2

The guy they fired was the passing game coordinator, Rick Dennison. The O line/run game coordinator is still with the team Juan Castillio. IMO Castillo should have been fired too. 

 

In 2016 Buffalo was #2 in rushing attempts, #1 in rushing yards, #1 in rushing TDs, #1 in rushing yards per carry average. 

in 2017 Buffalo was #4 in rushing attempts, #6 in rushing yards,  #15 in rushing TDs, #14 in rushing yards per carry average. 

 

For most of the early part of last year, McCoy was having a tough time of it during some games. The team was able to gain a good deal of rush yards later in the year. Nevertheless, Mccoy had his YPC average drop a significant 1.4 YPC. from 5.4 to 4.0. 

7 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

I think the OL is not as bad as some make it out to be.....starters anyway.

 

Groy stepped in when players went down and the OL did not miss a beat....I think Groy is VERY underrated.  I do hope that next year's draft and free agency is all about addressing the OL however making it a strength of the team.

 

LT doesnt bother me at all...Glenn barely played....Dawkins looks like a find.

 

If the OG from the draft ends up being solid depth then all we really needed to worry about is RT...which we really need to address this next off season.

You guys need to understand the difference between having a top left guard on the line and JAG. Wood, Incognito, and Glenn added some real stability to that line called continuity so when Glenn went out Dawkins stepped in pretty well. He could be that good on his own but I suspect he played better because Incognito was in there next to him. Incognito also elevated Glenn's play too. 

 

We shall soon see if Dawkins is a viable left tackle without that all pro left guard next to him. I think Dawkins will suffer big time without that anchor next to him. Losing an above average center, LG and LT are going to take its toll, trust me. A 5th round draft pick is not going to replace an all-pro. 

 

Look back to 2010 when Buddy Nix stated: "we're not that far away". Then the team went 0-8 with Fitz running for his life most of the time. This line looks that bad to me. JMO
 

[John from Riverside]

9 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

The guy they fired was the passing game coordinator, Rick Dennison. The O line/run game coordinator is still with the team Juan Castillio. IMO Castillo should have been fired too. 

 

In 2016 Buffalo was #2 in rushing attempts, #1 in rushing yards, #1 in rushing TDs, #1 in rushing yards per carry average. 

in 2017 Buffalo was #4 in rushing attempts, #6 in rushing yards,  #15 in rushing TDs, #14 in rushing yards per carry average. 

 

For most of the early part of last year, McCoy was having a tough time of it during some games. The team was able to gain a good deal of rush yards later in the year. Nevertheless, Mccoy had his YPC average drop a significant 1.4 YPC. from 5.4 to 4.0. 

You guys need to understand the difference between having a top left guard on the line and JAG. Wood, Incognito, and Glenn added some real stability to that line called continuity so when Glenn went out Dawkins stepped in pretty well. He could be that good on his own but I suspect he played better because Incognito was in there next to him. Incognito also elevated Glenn's play too. 

 

We shall soon see if Dawkins is a viable left tackle without that all pro left guard next to him. I think Dawkins will suffer big time without that anchor next to him. Losing an above average center, LG and LT are going to take its toll, trust me. A 5th round draft pick is not going to replace an all-pro. 

 

Look back to 2010 when Buddy Nix stated: "we're not that far away". Then the team went 0-8 with Fitz running for his life most of the time. This line looks that bad to me. JMO
 

I Honestly sought thought that cog was slipping last year he didn’t look nearly as good and I thought he might be a cap casualty in the off-season as it turns out he was his own worst enemy

Edited May 9, 2018 by John from Riverside

[Mr. WEO]

Buddy Nix??  come on...

 

And Pegula fired Whaley, just like he said he would before Douggie's (and Rex's) last season.

[Punching Bag]

2 hours ago, Nihilarian said:

The guy they fired was the passing game coordinator, Rick Dennison. The O line/run game coordinator is still with the team Juan Castillio. IMO Castillo should have been fired too. 

 

I have been saying this SINCE Juan Castillo was hired.  They signed the OL coach before the OC and that had to affect planning.  I  understand they coached together at Eagles but that was not a good enough reason to hire him and of all his hires it is most which shows nepotism.   I would not mind if he was assistant OC but the coaches they let go on OL were very, very good aside from beach chair incident.

 

Coach McDermott dumped a lot of good personnel to get his staff and STILL fired more following year.  He kept one coach Danny Crossman and while Crossman has shown he can produce okay special teams when he player he needs he has not shown ability to elevate team,

[BullBuchanan]

On 5/3/2018 at 10:52 AM, BadLandsMeanie said:

But as he said. it IS unusual for Buffalo.

 

Also it is next to unheard of in the entire NFL for a rookie head coach to come in and do all of that.

Rookie coach comes in, fires the GM (in essence). Can you think of a single example of that ever having happened on any team at any time?

 

If not, why are you in here saying it is normal?

 

 

 

That's not at all what happened, though. I'm 90% certain that the McDermott hire had next to nothing to do with Whaley being canned. WHaley was done as soon as the previous season ended, but he had years of research and prep done on the draft by that point. You can't bring in a new GM who hasn't picked or established any trust with the scouts and expect them to have any sort of success in the draft. The smart move is always firing the GM right after the draft.  

[Peace Frog]

On 5/3/2018 at 8:33 AM, May Day 10 said:

thats what happens when a franchise is on moth balls for 20 years and someone comes in, throws the curtains aside and opens a window to the outside world.

 

lack of "continuity", bad luck, Patriots, etc did not cause the drought.  Buffalo Bills "management" did.

I've always said that the Patriots were the reason the Bills couldn't win the division.  The Bills themselves were the reason they couldn't win a wildcard spot.

[Thurman#1]

At the time it was obvious the Pegulas liked him from the beginning. But within a week or two stories came out saying that watching him work had given them tremendous faith in him. He'd been hired to work with Whaley but within that one or two weeks they trusted him a lot more than they had ever trusted Whaley.

 

They saw that in the interviews that he had good plans. When he came in and started working they saw he had the wherewithal to make those plans work and to get things done in an organization.

[Nihilarian]

21 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

I Honestly sought thought that cog was slipping last year he didn’t look nearly as good and I thought he might be a cap casualty in the off-season as it turns out he was his own worst enemy

These men need to work together to make that line a solid unit that works cohesively. I kind of think it was more Cogs helping out that rookie tackle then it was a failure to do his own job.

 

I can see why the guy might want to retire at this point if the team is low balling him on money as he will really be tested without Glenn, Woods next to him. Without those tried and true veterans next to him it would make his job infinitely more difficult. 

 

The Bills face the Chargers in week two and Vikings week three. I just hope these young Bills QBs survive some of these games this year. Scary to me with Castillo still the line coach, run game coordinator.  

[Punching Bag]

Scares me too!  Imagine Rick Dennison's OL having a better performance than Castillo's!

[Bing Bong]

Not a fan of the "Draining the swamp" phrase. Swamp got started draining when the pegulas took over, just took them a while to get rolling with it. And what swamp did we drain? Whaley\Nix drained the Juaron swamp. There was no swamp we've just been steadily improving from those 6-10 seasons. We have better players and coaches what other swamp are we so worried about lol